Count Brühl
f grief or mourning in the town, but a general fe
n near the castle and in Taschenbur
ny face. Every courier on horseback was an object of curiosity to the crowd who tried to guess his errand. The people whispered but did not dare to speak aloud. K?nigstein was near, and it seemed that at the head of the government the same officials would remain, carrying out the same policy, for
ything was quiet. They only knew that, the day before, he
uiet. The smaller officials did not kno
romoted to the rank of councillor the people still called by that
a good woman was a veritable torture to her husband, for she bore such evident traces of her low origin, that he could not bring her forward. Notwithstanding her love for her lord and master, she tormented him by her talkativeness
ent and cunning man, two qualities necessary for a life among intrigues,
ok out a snuff-box and handing it to Henni
you think, ho
; I wait and watch,' an
hink,
into each
world say?' a
will be driven away and perhaps imprisoned; others say that Br
g Brühl, I shall help them: should Brühl be successful in overthrowing them, I shall help Br
-comer
afe policy is to wait and no
rselves, I wager you anything you like--even my wife against another better-looking one, for she tried me to-day by her prattle--that Brühl will not fall and that nobody will be able to
dre Guarini passes from the Prince to the Princess; Sulkowski watches t
be lost,' s
l not be satisfied if she becom
her a Queen,' said
rt lackey entered the house. Henniche ran to the door; Globig took his hat. There was a knock and the lackey appeared holding a letter in his hand. Hen
ey remai
ling, 'a great deal of money is needed.
ards the door; Henn
e we shall alway
fall,' said the host
the contrary, if one of us should fall, the other must
ll, push each
ire no help from ea
shook
r in the ante-room; this was a tall man with thin
e also,' said He
man enter
news? Do we
tient and wait,
stion of our skins!' a
t cover a comfortable seat. Everything rests on someone wh
expected; Sulkowsk
reside at state councils in Protestant Saxony, unless he becomes a Lutheran, and s
Councillor Globig, 'I
g a row of long teeth, 'that h
tion of the diet
y is not Poland, where the nobles do as they plea
door and at that moment there appeared a large, fat man
her council
?' said he slowly u
enniche angrily 'speaking frankly,
lf and makes a compromise with his conscience, lest he should seem to be against the rising sun by saluting the s
all l
u who know everything, tel
day, who is his friend and who his foe? One must be silent, one must cry with one eye and laugh wit
said the h
aid Hammer. 'To-day, everybody serves hi
new?' said Globig in a lo
uch news, but I shall not
rew n
the succession to the principality of Saxony, but to get the Polish crown Sapiech
owski last?'--aske
at the head,' said Hammer; 'and no
ollowed by the others. The host remain
them looked round cautiously, and t
The same curiosity was aroused in other houses of the capital of S
e most powerful although the most modest man in the court, received his friends. The modest old man would have contented himself with a couple of rooms, but as he was obliged to receive many distinguished guest
es were delicate, aristocratic but faded. A sweet smile brightened his face. His forehead was high and white, his eyes were large and dark; a R
he entered without asking any questions and without giving his name. The old s
st at the same moment; not a little surprised at seeing the new-
kissed each other's shoulders, G
elf that I should come to-day. You can guess what brings me
ter asking for instruct
to you. Lock the do
answered Guarini, 'we
is going to happen? Are you afraid of anything? Do you
ich he was going to say. Although the s
ce is a zealous Catholic, the Princess, if it were possible, is still more zealous. The fir
e in the future. The Prince is good, of weak character, and lazy
to the eyes of the stranger, put one
s ambition is stronger than his faith; his longer influence wo
ible to overthrow him,' said the gue
rince, there will ever arise the blood and the passions of Augustus the Strong? Is it possible? Then of wh
anger f
loomy,' said he 'we m
he Prince a man whom we can be sure will serve us, who would also depend upon us. Frederick is lazy, we must make him a soft bed, pr
stranger
'that for so great a purpose, we
nt,' quoted Guarini quietly. 'We cannot limit
is about the salvation of our souls, about holding our position here, where previously Luther was omnipotent. We have too
listened
ience would direct, but often like a pulcinello of the Prince, like an impresario behind the stage, like a councillor there, where advice is nece
o each other,' said the guest.
d by the cords of their own passions.--We are sure of the Princess; our first duty is, if possible, to make her influence stronger. But that most pious lady, I am forced to adm
and then
self; in order to keep the King under his domination, he will give him ever
hat m
ence has given us a tool. We
t,' said t
ura sit aut aliqua religio falsa confirmaretur, alias ittam dissimulare licet, aliqua causa legitima interveniente.[1] Brühl shall be or rather is a Catholic. We shall find him a Catholic wife, whom he will accept from the Pr
you sur
ni sm
tempt to betray us, he would fall to-morrow;
aid the stranger after a moment of thought, '
ance two years' work, using all possible means, but with God's help vict
on the Princ
ing been his confessor for so
e Princess?' a
od has not endowed her with any feminine
not persuade him to lead the lasc
to create a public scandal, but it would be impossible to put a bridle on his passions. They w
nger bec
be obliged to soil oneself f
goat, such as I,' said Guarini
rupted the vis
ur orders?'
answered the stranger. 'In the meanwhile you mu
wife to fulfil his father's last wish. Sulkowski shall only
will be able to
o has not the slightest idea of danger, and Brü
Brü
y ready to crush his enemy, and suffers from no qualms of conscie
lent, the stra
version?' asked he a
uls, which our fishermen's nets pull to the shore, are not worth much. Their descendants may pay for our labour. And
t is
r with him dogma is of secondary importance, but a new social organisation, which he proposes to build. Falsehood takes the brightness from truth.
the guest, with animation. '
f that republic. Separated, but living in the same spot, there dwell troops of women, girls and children. They are united by joining in common prayers and meals. The powerful lord, Co
r listened
the spreading of he
d Guarini. 'Investigations were made,
ommitted some abomina
fferent creeds, but they are united in one strange community, in which there is no private pr
med the stranger. '
y ruled by Christ, you may guess how marriages are contracted. The you
e things. But may they
ands of maidens with purple sashes, of marri
uest
ll not suffer t
arini. 'Zinzendorf shall be banishe
seen this
llingly with them, not about theology, however, but about the first Christians, their life and our
rini, having excused himself, went to the ante-room where he foun
given, and he settled himself to write as though in his own house. Padre Guar
father's death. He held a pipe, his head drooped, and he was silent as us
chair and kissed his hand. At a little distance stood Sulkowski, who would not leave his m
a little distraction would be necessary; consequently his manner was almost jovial, he took
is natural and necessary. Too intense grief is injurious to the health, and then your
ince s
one had put him into vinegar; he cries because he cannot play tricks on Hor
Prince: 'but it would not be decorous for
uit was
nd fro. The Padre tried to read the Count's face, but saw only pride and self-satisfaction. The Prince poin
odded in sig
ng the conversation would bore
usement for your Royal High
, 'that with your good-wil
at whom the Prince was looking and no
and faithful servants there. Wh
if authorising him to answer. The
the coming election. But who knows that Leszezynski, France an
,' said the Prince. 'H
i became
put the crown of a king on the
ly. 'It is due to her; she cannot rema
thoughtful. It seemed that he would talk further on t
st be very amusing; you say they
s, but I don't know whether they s
aughed aloud, then he put his han
g while that Frederick bent agai
u seen F
swered t
te her very much. E una diva! She sings like an angel! No other can rival her. I shall
d aside, and then came near the Prince. Fre
prime minister-
is hands softly. 'Saxony is to be congratulated at having at
ce looke
ing a Catholic as my prime minister
hl,' said the Jesuit, 'but
answered: 'Pshaw!'
ly at the Jesuit, who assum
s announced, and the Prince
he said bending to kiss Frederick's hand. 'I am
d the Prince sighing. 'Al
r the Poles,' said Moszynski w
and exclaimed as if he h
s that were left in Wilanow. I must have them! Send someone by porte-
re black,' s
,' enumerated the Prince. 'P
there,' said Moszynski. 'Whe
s Madonna! Take it from the Saxony Pal
nski
er orders?
ers; my father was
anxious that his master should have that of which he was fond, went to tell a
; Moszynski waited in vain, for the Prince was so much a
d and took his leave. Frederick smiled on h
the Prince remained with Guarini. Hardly had the
s, but when Frosch begins to abuse Horch, and the latter begins to kick, and
ce's appreciation of the comical
into the dining-room to-morrow; but later on, f
return to the guest he had left at his house. The P
ugh he is a Protestant. He shall be quickly converted, for he
answer; he bow
Romance
Romance
Romance
Romance
Romance
Romance